Hard aged cheese trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in hard aged cheese was worth $24.99 billion in 2024, about 4.11 million tonnes. That is an increase of 36% since 2017, and up 2% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $24.99B | 4.11M t |
| 2023 | $24.59B | 4.00M t |
| 2022 | $22.96B | 3.88M t |
| 2021 | $21.99B | 4.13M t |
| 2020 | $20.13B | 4.06M t |
| 2019 | $19.90B | 4.11M t |
| 2018 | $19.46B | 3.93M t |
| 2017 | $18.36B | 3.73M t |
Top hard aged cheese exporting countries
The Netherlands is the largest exporter with 18% of world exports, followed by Germany and France. The top three supply 43% between them, out of 158 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $4.45B | 18% |
| Germany | $3.35B | 13% |
| France | $2.86B | 12% |
| Italy | $2.60B | 10% |
| Ireland | $1.15B | 4.6% |
| United States | $1.03B | 4.1% |
| Greece | $1.03B | 4.1% |
| Denmark | $889.0M | 3.6% |
| New Zealand | $816.0M | 3.3% |
| Switzerland | $707.9M | 2.8% |
| United Kingdom | $705.8M | 2.8% |
| Poland | $675.3M | 2.7% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are Germany (17%), the United States (7%) and Italy (6%). 222 countries imported it, and the top three take 30% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $4.30B | 17% |
| United States | $1.68B | 6.7% |
| Italy | $1.49B | 6% |
| France | $1.48B | 5.9% |
| United Kingdom | $1.32B | 5.3% |
| Belgium | $1.25B | 5% |
| Netherlands | $1.20B | 4.8% |
| Spain | $1.11B | 4.4% |
| Japan | $774.0M | 3.1% |
| Mexico | $643.9M | 2.6% |
| Greece | $610.4M | 2.4% |
| Sweden | $570.5M | 2.3% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $6.07 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Italy averaged $11.03 per kg and Ireland $4.96 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 0406.90: Dairy produce: cheese (not grated, powdered or processed), n.e.c. in heading no. 0406. HS 0406 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most hard aged cheese?
The Netherlands exported $4.45 billion in 2024, 18% of the world total, followed by Germany (13%) and France (11%). In all, 158 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most hard aged cheese?
Germany imported $4.30 billion in 2024, 17% of world imports, ahead of the United States (7%) and Italy (6%). The top three importers together take 30%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in hard aged cheese?
It was worth $24.99 billion in 2024, about 4.11 million tonnes. That is an increase of 36% since 2017. 2024 was the highest year since 2017. 158 countries reported exports and 222 reported imports.
What is the average price of hard aged cheese per kg?
The world average declared value was about $6.07 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Italy averaged $11.03 per kg and Ireland $4.96 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for hard aged cheese?
The HS code for hard aged cheese is subheading 0406.90, in chapter 04 (dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 0406 page.
How can I find hard aged cheese buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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